How to Preserve Apples for Apple Pie
Apples are one of the trickier fruits to preserve because as soon as apples are cut and exposed to oxygen, the flesh often starts turning brown. If you want to make an apple pie, you can prepare the apples for the filling ahead of time if you use key ingredients to prevent the oxidizing process that causes the discoloration. The apples can be stored in the freezer to preserve their flavor and texture until you're ready to add them to a pie crust. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- 6 to 8 apples
- Vegetable peeler
- Sharp knife
- Large bowl
- 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp. to 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 2 tbsp. cornstarch
- Spoon
- Airtight container
Instructions
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1
Drag a vegetable peeler lightly across the outside of each apple to remove all of the skin. Cut each apple into slices or chunks and discard the stem and seeds.
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2
Transfer the apple pieces into a large bowl. Slice a lemon in half, then squeeze the juice onto the apple slices. The acid in the lemon juice will help keep the apples from turning brown.
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3
Add 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 tsp. to 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 2 tbsp. cornstarch to the apple slices. Stir the ingredients gently until the apple slices are evenly coated.
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4
Transfer the coated apple pieces into an airtight container. Store the apples in the freezer for up to eight months before using them for pie.
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Tips & Warnings
Place the apples in a freezer bag, then put the bag into a pie dish before freezing it--this will freeze the apples into the exact shape for the pie and you won't even need to thaw them before transferring them onto a pie crust.
Never skip the cornstarch--it is essential for thickening the apple mixture and preventing it from becoming too runny during the freezing process.
References
- Photo Credit apple-pie image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com
